NYSR
...Audacity cannot handle 24 bit

 
I often open 24-bit WAV files in Audacity. It seems to handle them ok. What's the problem?

Why this solution works is beyond me. But I have SONAR using the ONLY THE Presonus 16.4.2 ai as its I/O sound device. HOWEVER, system sounds go through the default low end sound card. If I disable the low end sound card and have no system sounds, then SONAR stops reducing my 24 bit exports by 3 dB.

Why SONAR does this is beyond me.